With the recent three day weekend, signage and labels everywhere read a mix of Columbus Day and Indigenious People Day.  Columbus Day has been a holiday most of us didn’t think twice about when we were in elementary school, but as we grow older and we have more exposure to the world, Columbus Day might not be how you remembered it by celebrating with fun and songs. This seemingly innocent celebratory holiday has been getting backlash in the past several years, but why?  

Columbus Day celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus to North America on October 12th, 1492. Research shows he landed in present day Bahamas, which can be classified as North America.  According to one History Channel article, Columbus looted, deceived, enslaved, and even murdered the Natives already populating the land. Recently, people have figured out what he did. They wanted to change the holiday to at least bring awareness to the natives and not ignore the horrific acts committed by Columbus and his crew. 

In many states like Alaska, Hawaii, and Oregon they have commemorated Indigienous People day. In many Latin American nations they call it Dìa de la Raza or Day of the Race where they celebrate Latin American culture and the benefits from the explorers brought to the natives.

After Columbus Day there are many articles written about what is open and what is not on Columbus Day, for example the post office, or the bank. The United States president, Joe Biden has also officially recognized Indigenous People Day while still keeping the term Columbus Day – he is the first ever president to do that.

One student from Oakmont’s Class of 2024 stated, “I feel like Columbus Day makes more sense than having just an Indigenous People day,” However, the student stated that, “Columbus was also kind of a bad person and Indigenous People Day would be better probably even if it makes less sense.” 

From polling and brief interviews, most people in Oakmont Regional High School that I talked to were right in the middle, some leaning right, some leaning left, but only by a little bit. However, most people that I talked to agreed that Christopher Columbus was a violent person and that he should not be glorified for those actions, even if he unintentionally helped form the base of the current United States.  

I don’t think we should rewrite or ignore history for any context; if we don’t teach historical events at all, then people will not understand the significance of those events and respect won’t be placed anywhere. Sugar coating topics, and ignoring the cruelty of events, such as Columbus Day is not the answer either, since it ignores all the tragedies Columbus brought onto the Americas. The celebration of Columbus Day should focus on the benefits of his explorations and other explorers and also remember the lives taken from Columbus.

My personal opinion is that we revise Columbus Day so it isn’t celebrated as it is right now; instead, as a remembrance day for the people he hurt and also a teaching lesson to educate people on what really happened. There is nothing we can do about what Christopher Columbus did, but we can’t just ignore what he did for better or worse. We should remember the many lives that were taken and ruined by him, but also mark the landing of the ships as a keypoint in the start of the United States.